1. ISAAC ,
ESAU and JACOB

2. • Isaac married Rebekah; they had twin sons
named Esau and Jacob
• Esau was born first, so he was entitled to his
family’s birthright
- the birthright was the older son’s right to a
larger inheritance and a special blessing from his
father
* Whoever received the birthright in Isaac’s family
would become the patriarch of God’s chosen
people

3. • Jacob wanted the birthright which belonged to
his brother
• One day Esau was hungry;
he asked Jacob for some food
• Jacob told him that he
would give Esau a meal
in exchange for his birthright;
Esau agreed

4. • When Isaac was old and near death, Jacob and
Rebekah tricked Isaac into thinking that Jacob
was Esau
• Isaac gave the blessing to Jacob
• It is through Jacob’s family that God’s promise of
a savior is carried out

6. • Jacob’s favored wife is Rachel
• In Genesis 32, Jacob is traveling and struggles
with a messenger of God
• Because Jacob is not defeated, he is given a new
name – Israel. This name means “he who
wrestles with God”
• This new name is a sign of his new mission

7. • God’s chosen people would become known as
Israelites.

8. • Jacob and Rachel had 12 sons
• From these 12 sons came the Twelve Tribes of
Israel

9. The number 12 is symbolically significant in the
Bible
- 12 symbolizes God’s power and authority
- It also symbolizes “perfect government” and
completeness of a group or nation
- The number 12 is found 187 times in the Bible –
12 Patriarchs, 12 sons, 12 Tribes, 12 Apostles…